Drugs related discussion

[Scheherazade]

I would like to make a poll to see how commonly drugs/alcohol/smoking are used.

I have to admit that, apart from having alcohol occasionally, I haven't done any drugs (apart from prescribed painkillers, which has not been a regular thing either). I haven't smoked either.

Yeah, I have had a fun life

So, I would like to hear your suggestions on what should be included in such a poll.

The ones I can think of:

- Alcohol (occasional)

- Alcohol (addiction)

- Cigarettes

- Soft drugs

- Hard drugs


Please feel free to discuss the issue and make any suggestions you can think of while keeping in mind that this might be a sensitive issue for many.

[LitNetIsGreat]

Alcohol moderate? Don't you think that there should be some middle ground between occasional and addicted?

I don't smoke and I certainly don't do drugs. I drink moderately, maybe slightly more than moderately, but I'm not addicted. It's been known for me to go a whole day without any beer.

[papayahed]

You might want to differentiate between hard and soft drugs.

[paradoxical]

Instead of just hard and soft drugs, I think you need to further break these down into categories. Psychedelics, opiates, amphetamines, etc. This should make for an interesting discussion.

[Scheherazade]

Would this be an acceptable differentiation?

[ClaesGefvenberg]

This sounds like something for the Serious Discussions forum? I have a feeling that it may turn serious in no time flat.

/Claes

[paradoxical]

Would this be an acceptable differentiation?

That looks good to me. I agree that alcohol is a hard drug. Many don't even seem to realize that it's a drug.

[LitNetIsGreat]

Alcohol above cocaine and heroin??

[Alexander III]

Would this be an acceptable differentiation?

I think that list is very wrong, you can't have Alcohol and heroin compared to be the same, nor can you have Weed and Lsd compared to be the same, and caffeine and MDMA being similar is ridiculous.

How about this:

scale 1-10; for 3 categories -
A) Addiction level
B)Strength of High
C) Damage to body

[LitNetIsGreat]

The UK drugs classification list might come in handy.
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/drugs/drug-law/

So, something like?

- Alcohol (occasional)

- Alcohol (moderate)

- Alcohol (addiction)

- Cigarettes

- Class C illegal drugs - Tranquilisers, some painkillers, Gamma, etc

- Class B illegal drugs - Amphetamines, Cannabis, etc

- Class A illegal drugs -Ecstasy, LSD, heroin, cocaine, etc

[paradoxical]

Well, we can simply classify the different types of drugs. Stimulants, depressants, hallucinogens, etc. I don't think it's a good idea to use the British or American system of Class A, B, and C or Schedule I, II, and III.

I think simply labeling the different kinds of drugs according to their effects is more objective. We can discuss the rest—which is more harmful, etc in the thread.

[qimissung]

Would the psychedelic drugs (is that term still used?) be considered "soft"? Would they more properly belong in the middle perhaps?

I have read some really interesting artlicles on several of them. They have used LSD to help cancer patients resolve their feelings about their imminent death. I don't think they are hard drugs, but they do seem to require help in their use because they can unleash powerful feelings.

[Scheherazade]

How about this:

scale 1-10; for 3 categories -
A) Addiction level
B)Strength of High
C) Damage to body

Are you proposing to have three different polls?

The UK drugs classification list might come in handy.
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/drugs/drug-law/

So, something like?

- Alcohol (occasional)

- Alcohol (moderate)

- Alcohol (addiction)

- Cigarettes

- Class C illegal drugs - Tranquilisers, some painkillers, Gamma, etc

- Class B illegal drugs - Amphetamines, Cannabis, etc

- Class A illegal drugs -Ecstasy, LSD, heroin, cocaine, etc

I like this list but maybe introduce the "occasional/moderate/addiction" classification to them as well?

I don't think it's a good idea to use the British or American system of Class A, B, and C or Schedule I, II, and III.

Why not?

Qimi> I don't know much about them either so hoping that we can come up with an agreeable list in this thread.

This sounds like something for the Serious Discussions forum? I have a feeling that it may turn serious in no time flat.

/Claes

See the discussion over the classification above? That is why I started this one in General Chat so that more people get involved. Once we vaguely agree on a list, I will start a discussion thread with the Cat.

[Lokasenna]

Perhaps smoking could be broken down as well - I haven't smoked cigarettes for a long while because they are filthy things, but a good cigar is a thing of beauty. It's also a damn-sight less damaging than a cigarette too...

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

I think "Prescribed drugs" should be a category. I don't want to vote in a poll and say I do drugs if it's implied that they're done illegally, and if explicitly said so, that's usually implied.

Would this be an acceptable differentiation?

This list just seems backwards. I don't get the criteria. LSD and mescaline in soft? Alcohol and Nocotine in hard? Caffeine and ketamine (which I've had, and it messes you up big time) in the middle? Wha?

Also, what's gamma? Are people trying to become the Hulk out there?